Diane Lane has revealed that she believes intimacy is a key element in making marriage a rewarding experience.

She told Ladies Home Journal that being married forces a person to constantly confront their own problems.

"I recently said to Josh [Brolin], â€˜Being in a relationship makes it impossible to avoid yourselfâ€™. It may not always make me comfortable but it sure has made me a better person. And Iâ€™ll take that any day."

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She added that long-term relationships can provide a couple with the chance to build a life based on their own principles.

"At my own peril I will quote Mae West, who said â€˜Getting married is like trading in the adoration of many for the sarcasm of one'. I embrace that. Bring it on," she said.

Lane continued: "Because thatâ€™s what intimacy is, itâ€™s a willingness to be vulnerable, a willingness to bite my tongue and a willingness to set an example of what I believe in."